JP2009253339A - Data transmitter and data transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique with which data can be transmitted to a designated transmission destination without using E-mail. <P>SOLUTION: A network multifunction machine 4 transmits transmission destination registration data 73 in which a computer name of a PC 5, a common folder name are described, and the like to a network multifunction machine 1. A user of the network multifunction machine 1 designates a transmission destination of the scan data 75 on the basis of the transmission destination registration data 73. The network multifunction machine 1 transmits the scan data 75 and transfer instruction data 76 indicating a transmission destination of the scan data 75 to the network multifunction machine 4 by using an Internet printing protocol. The network multifunction machine 4 determines to transfer scan data 75 to the transfer destination designated by the transfer instruction data 76 when it receives the transfer instruction data 76 together with the scan data 75. The scan data 75 are stored in a common folder 51 on the basis of an SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data transmission device that transmits electronic data via a network, and a data transfer device that transfers electronic data received from the data transmission device to a designated terminal device.

  In recent years, in offices and the like, network multifunction peripherals having multiple functions such as a copy function, a fax function, a printer function, a scanner function, and an electronic mail function have been used. The network multifunction peripheral is normally used by being connected to a LAN (Local Area Network). The user can use various functions of the network multifunction peripheral by operating a PC (Personal Computer) connected to the LAN.

  As one of the functions of the network multifunction peripheral, there is a function of saving scanned image data created by scanning a document in a shared folder of a PC designated by the user. For example, in the image reading apparatus according to Patent Document 1, a list of shared folder names corresponding to user identification information input by the user is displayed on the display unit. The image reading apparatus according to Patent Document 1 stores scanned image data in a folder selected by the user from a list of shared folder names displayed on the display unit.

JP 2007-306383 A

  In the above-described image reading apparatus according to Patent Document 1, computers connected to the same LAN are scan image data transmission targets. That is, the image reading apparatus according to Patent Document 1 cannot transmit scan image data to a computer connected to another LAN.

  On the other hand, there are network multifunction peripherals that send scanned image data to a mail address designated using electronic mail. Such a network multifunction peripheral can transmit scanned image data to a PC connected via the Internet or the like. However, when transmitting scanned image data using electronic mail, the network multifunction peripheral and the destination computer must be in an environment where they can be connected to the mail server.

  As described above, when transmitting scanned image data, the user must change the settings of the network multifunction device in accordance with the connection environment of the transmission destination computer, which may impair the operability of the network multifunction device. . In addition, depending on the connection environment of the network multifunction peripheral or the destination computer, there is a problem that the scan image data cannot be transmitted.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of transmitting data to a designated transmission destination without using an electronic mail.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a data transmission device connected to a communication device via a network and capable of communicating with the communication device using a file sharing protocol. A communication destination device configured to store device list information and set a transmission destination of transmission data using the list information, and to transfer the transmission data to the terminal device set as the transmission destination A transfer instruction information generating unit for generating transfer instruction information for instructing the transmission device, and a transmission unit for transmitting the transfer instruction information to the communication device together with the transmission data based on a remote printing protocol.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the image reading device according to claim 1, further receiving terminal information for specifying the terminal device, and registering the received terminal information in the list information Part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving unit for receiving transmission data transmitted using a remote printing protocol by a communication device connected via a network, and a transfer instruction for instructing transfer of the transmission data by the receiving unit. When information is received together with the transmission data, a transfer confirmation unit that determines a transfer destination of the transmission data based on the transfer instruction information, and transfers the transmission data to the transfer destination determined based on a file sharing protocol And a transfer unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the third aspect, the device further holds transfer destination information indicating a device to which the transmission data can be transferred, and the communication device transmits the transmission data. A transfer destination manager that transmits the transfer destination information to the communication device before transmitting
It is characterized by providing.

  When transmitting transmission data to a terminal device, the data transmission device according to the present invention communicates with the terminal device, using the remote printing protocol, transfer instruction information for instructing transfer of the transmission data to the terminal device together with the data. Can be sent to the communication device. Thus, the data transmission device according to the present invention can transmit data to a terminal device that cannot directly transmit data without using an electronic mail.

  In addition, when the data transfer apparatus according to the present invention receives the transfer instruction information together with the transmission data based on the remote printing protocol, the data transmission apparatus transfers the received transmission data using the file sharing protocol. By using the data transfer device according to the present invention, the communication device that is the transmission source of transmission data can transmit data to a device that cannot directly transmit data without using electronic mail.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a network multifunction peripheral will be described as an example of a data transmission apparatus and a data transfer apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network system including network multifunction peripherals 1 and 4 according to the present embodiment. In the network system shown in FIG. 1, network systems 100 and 200 are connected via the Internet 300. The network systems 100 and 200 are constructed at locations separated from each other, and are constructed at, for example, a company base.

  The network system 100 has a configuration in which a network multifunction device 1 and a PC 2 are connected to a LAN 3 respectively. The network system 200 has a configuration in which a network multifunction device 4 and a PC 5 are connected to a LAN 6. The LANs 3 and 6 are connected to the Internet 300 via routers (not shown).

  In the network system shown in FIG. 1, remote storage processing is executed in which scan data 75 created by the network multifunction device 1 reading a document 70 is stored in the shared folder 51 of the PC 5. The broken line arrows shown in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of the scan data 75 in the remote storage process.

  In the remote storage process, the network multifunction device 1 transmits the scan data 75 to the network multifunction device 4 using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). The network MFP 4 stores the scan data 75 in the shared folder 51 created in the PC 5 using the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol.

  First, the configuration of the network multifunction device 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network multifunction device 1. The network multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a touch panel display 13, a scanner unit 14, a printer unit 15, a FAX (facsimile) unit 16, and a LAN interface 17.

  The control unit 11 includes a transmission destination setting unit 111, an IPP processing unit 112, and a microprocessor (not shown). The microprocessor performs overall control of the network multifunction device 1.

  The transmission destination setting unit 111 sets a transmission destination of the scan data 75 created by the scanner unit 14. The IPP processing unit 112 transmits / receives data using IPP to / from each computer connected via the Internet 300.

  The operation unit 12 includes a hardware key for inputting various instructions to the network MFP 1. The touch panel display 13 displays information related to the network multifunction peripheral 1 and various operation menus.

  The scanner unit 14 reads a document 70 set on an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) or the like page by page, and outputs scan data 75, 75... As image data corresponding to each page. The printer unit 15 prints the scan data 75 or print data transmitted by the PC 2 on a print sheet according to various setting conditions. The FAX unit 16 performs facsimile communication using a public line network (not shown).

  The LAN interface 17 transmits / receives data to / from each computer connected to the LAN 3 or the like using TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol).

  Next, the configuration of the network multifunction device 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network multifunction device 4. The network multifunction device 4 includes a control unit 41, an operation unit 42, a touch panel display 43, a scanner unit 44, a printer unit 45, a FAX unit 46, and a LAN interface 47.

  The control unit 41 includes a transfer destination determination unit 411, an IPP processing unit 412, a transfer processing unit 413, a memory 414, and a microprocessor (not shown). The microprocessor performs overall control of the network multifunction device 4.

  The transfer destination determination unit 411 determines whether to transfer the received data according to the content of the data received from the network multifunction device 1. The IPP processing unit 412 transmits and receives data to and from each computer connected to the Internet 300 using IPP. The transfer processing unit 413 stores data in the shared folder 51 created in the PC 5 using the SMB protocol. The memory 414 is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like, and temporarily stores received data.

  Since the operation unit 42, the touch panel display 43, the scanner unit 44, the printer unit 45, the FAX unit 46, and the LAN interface 47 are the same as the respective components of the network multifunction peripheral 1, the description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the network multifunction peripherals 1 and 4 having the above-described configuration will be described in detail. First, the outline of the processing flow in the remote storage processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the network MFPs 1 and 4 and the PC 5 in the remote storage process. Note that the processing shown in steps S1 to S3 corresponds to a preparation stage of remote storage processing.

  First, the user of the PC 5 operates the PC 5 to create shared folder registration information 71, and transmits the shared folder registration information 71 to the network multifunction device 4 (step S1). The shared folder registration information 71 is data in which the computer name of the PC 5, the folder name of the shared folder 51, the user ID, the password, the IP address of the transmission source (network MFP 1) of the scan data 75, and the like are described.

  In the network multifunction device 4, the transfer destination determination unit 411 registers the received shared folder registration information 71 in the shared folder management data 72, and transmits the transmission destination registration data 73 to the network multifunction device 1 (step S2). In the network MFP 1, when the transmission destination setting unit 111 receives the transmission destination registration data 73, the computer name of the PC 5 and the folder name of the shared folder 51 are registered in the transmission destination management table 74 (step S3).

  As described above, by registering information related to the shared folder 51 in the network multifunction peripherals 1 and 4, it is possible to execute remote storage processing.

  Next, the user of the network multifunction device 1 sets the document 70 on the ADF of the scanner unit 14 and sets the remote storage processing (step S4). The scanner unit 14 reads the document 70 and creates scan data 75, 75... In accordance with an instruction from the user of the network multifunction device 1 (step S5). The IPP processing unit 112 transmits the scan data 75 and transfer instruction data 76 for instructing transfer of the scan data 75 to the network multifunction device 4 using IPP (step S6).

  The network multifunction device 4 receives the transfer instruction data 76 and transfers the scan data 75 to the PC 5 (step S7). The scan data 75 is stored in the shared folder 51 based on the SMB protocol. Thereby, the remote storage process of the scan data 75 is completed.

  Next, the process described above will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the network multifunction device 4 in the registration process (step S2) of the shared folder registration information 71. First, the PC 5 transmits the shared folder registration information 71 to the network multifunction device 4 by using a Post command of HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

  When the network MFP 4 receives the shared folder registration information 71 (Yes in step S21), the transfer destination determination unit 411 updates the shared folder management data 72 based on the received shared folder management information 71 (step S22). . In the shared folder management data 72, shared folder registration information 71 transmitted from the PC 5 or another PC (not shown) is stored.

  Next, the transfer destination determination unit 411 creates transmission destination registration data 73 based on the received shared folder registration information 71 (step S23). The IPP processing unit 412 transmits the destination registration data 73 to the network multifunction device 1 using IPP (step S24). Thereby, the process shown in FIG. 5 is completed.

  The destination registration data 73 is data in csv (Comma Separated Values) format, and describes the IP address of the network MFP 4, the name of the network MFP 4, the computer name of the PC 5, the folder name of the shared folder 51, and the like. . Instead of the IP address of the network multifunction device 4, URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) information may be described. The name of the network multifunction device 4 may be any information that allows the user of the network multifunction device 1 to recognize that it is the network multifunction device 4. For example, the installation location of the network multifunction device 4 may be described.

  Next, the registration process (step S3) of the transmission destination registration data 73 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the network multifunction device 1 in the registration process of the transmission destination registration data 73.

  First, when the network MFP 1 receives data based on IPP (Yes in step S31), the transmission destination setting unit 111 determines whether the received data is csv format data (step S32). When the received data is not in the csv format (No in step S32), the data shown in FIG. 6 is completed by printing the data received by the printer unit 15 (step S35).

  On the other hand, if the received data is csv format data (Yes in step S32), the transmission destination setting unit 111 determines whether the received data is the transmission destination registration data 73 (step S33). If the received data is not the destination registration data 73 (No in step S33), the data received by the printer unit 15 is printed (step S35), thereby ending the process shown in FIG.

  When the received data is the transmission destination registration data 73 (Yes in step S33), the transmission destination setting unit 111 updates the transmission destination management table 74 based on the transmission destination registration data 73 (step S34). Thereby, registration of information related to the shared folder 51 necessary for the remote storage processing of the scan data 75 is completed. That is, the scan data 75 can be remotely stored.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the transmission destination management table 74. As shown in FIG. 7, in the transmission destination management table 74, the information of each item described in the transmission destination registration data 73 is based on the IP address of the transfer device (such as the network multifunction device 4) that transfers the scan data 75. It is managed. Assume that data indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7 is data corresponding to the shared folder 51 of the PC 5. Further, the network path of the shared folder 51 is recorded as the folder name of the shared folder 51.

  Next, the setting of the remote storage process (step S4) will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an initial state of the setting screen 131 in the remote storage process. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the setting screen 131 after the operation confirmation of the network multifunction device 4 is completed.

  The user of the network multifunction peripheral 1 calls the setting screen 131 shown in FIG. 8 by operating the operation unit 12 or the touch panel display 13. In the setting screen 131 shown in FIG. 8, selection buttons 132, 132... Each having the transfer device name described in the transmission destination management table 74 are displayed.

  For example, when the selection button 132 corresponding to “location B” is pressed, the IPP processing unit 112 makes an operation confirmation request to the network multifunction peripheral 4 (step S41). Specifically, the IPP processing unit 112 transmits an operation confirmation notification to the network multifunction device 4. For transmitting the operation confirmation notification, an IPP command (Get-Printer-Attribute command) for requesting printer attribute information is used.

  When the printer attribute information is received from the network multifunction device 4 as the operation confirmation response, the transmission destination setting unit 111 determines that the network multifunction device 4 is operating. The transmission destination setting unit 111 displays a setting screen 131 shown in FIG. 9 as a response confirmation process (step S42). The setting screen 131 shown in FIG. 9 displays shared folder list information 133 corresponding to the network MFP 4 based on the transmission destination management table 74.

  For example, it is assumed that “PC-005” corresponding to PC 5 is selected as the transmission destination of the scan data 75 from the list information 133. In this case, the transmission destination setting unit 111 creates transfer instruction data 76 in which the computer name of the PC 5 and the folder name of the shared folder 51 are described in the csv format. Thereby, the setting of the remote storage process is completed. Then, when the scan start button 134 shown in FIG. 9 is pressed, the scanner unit 14 executes a scan process (step S5).

  Note that when the printer attribute information cannot be received, the transmission destination setting unit 111 displays a message indicating that remote storage processing cannot be performed on the touch panel display 13 and ends the remote storage processing setting.

  Next, the scan data transmission process (step S6) will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the network multifunction peripheral 1 in the scan data transmission process.

  First, the IPP processing unit 112 transmits a job generation request to the network multifunction peripheral 4 (step S61). When the job generation response is received (Yes in step S62), the transfer instruction data 76 is transmitted to the network multifunction device 4 (step S63). An IPP Create-Job command or the like is used for transmitting the job generation request, and a Send-Document command is used for transmitting the transfer instruction data 76.

  Next, scan data 75 corresponding to each page of the document 70 is transmitted to the network MFP 4. Specifically, the IPP processing unit 112 checks whether the scan data 75 to be transmitted is the last data (step S64). If it is not the last data (No in step S64), the IPP processing unit 112 transmits the scan data 75 to the network multifunction device 4 using the Send-Documento command (step S65).

  On the other hand, if it is the last data (Yes in step S64). The IPP processing unit 112 sets the last-document attribute in the Send-Document command to “true” and transmits the scan data 75 (step S66). The last-document attribute is flag information indicating that data to be transmitted is final data. Thereby, the network multifunction peripheral 1 ends the processing shown in FIG.

  Next, the scan data transfer process (step S7) will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the network multifunction peripheral 4 in the scan data transfer process.

  When the IPP processing unit 412 receives a job generation request from the network multifunction device 1 (Yes in step S71), the IPP processing unit 412 returns a job generation response to the network multifunction device 1 (step S72). As a result, the network MFP 4 can receive data from the network MFP 1.

  When the IPP processing unit 412 receives data without flag information (No in step S73), the IPP processing unit 412 stores the received data in the memory 414 regardless of the content of the data (step S74). On the other hand, when the data is received together with the flag information (Yes in step S73), the IPP processing unit 412 stores the received data in the memory 414 and confirms the contents of all received data (step S75). If there is no transfer instruction data 76 in the received data (No in step S76), the printer unit 45 prints the received data (step S77), and the processing shown in FIG. 11 ends.

  On the other hand, when there is transfer instruction data 76 in the received data (Yes in step S76), the transfer processing unit 413 transfers the scan data 75 included in the received data to the PC 5 using the SMB protocol (step S78).

  Specifically, the transfer processing unit 413 acquires the user name and password of the PC 5 from the shared folder management data 72 based on the PC name and shared folder name described in the transfer instruction data 76. The transfer processing unit 413 opens a session based on the SMB protocol with the PC 5. The transfer processing unit 413 transmits the acquired user name and password of the PC 5 to the PC 5 and requests the PC 5 for authentication. After the authentication of the PC 5, the transfer processing unit 413 designates the transmission destination of the scan data 75 as the shared folder 51 and transmits the scan data 75 to the PC 5. Thereby, the remote storage process of the scan data 75 is completed.

  As described above, the network multifunction peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment transmits the scan data 75 and the transfer instruction data 76 to the network multifunction peripheral 4 using IPP. The network MFP 4 transmits the received scan data 75 to the transfer destination indicated by the transfer instruction data 76 to the PC 5. Thereby, the network multifunction peripheral 4 can transmit the scan data 75 to the PC 5 without using an electronic mail.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the IPP processing unit 112 confirms the operation of the network multifunction device 4 at the time of setting the remote storage processing (step S4) has been described. For example, the IPP processing unit 112 may check the operation of the network MFP 4 when the user presses the scan start button 134.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the network multifunction peripheral 1 transmits the destination registration data 73 using IPP has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the network multifunction device 4 may transmit the destination registration data 73 to the network multifunction device 1 using HTTP. Alternatively, the network multifunction device 4 may convert the destination registration data 73 into binary data and transmit the binary data to the network multifunction device 1 via the FAX unit 46.

1 is a configuration diagram of a network system including a network multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral that transmits scan data. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network multifunction peripheral that transfers scan data. It is a figure which shows the flow of a process of each apparatus in a remote preservation | save process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a registration process of shared folder registration information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a registration process of transmission destination registration data. It is a figure which shows an example of a transmission destination management table. It is a figure which shows the initial state of the setting screen of a remote preservation | save process. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of a remote preservation | save process after the operation | movement confirmation of the apparatus which transfers scan data. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a scan data transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a scan data transfer process.

Explanation of symbols

1, 4 Network MFP 5 PC (personal computer)
11, 41 Control unit 12, 42 Operation unit 13, 43 Touch panel display 14, 44 Scanner unit 15, 45 Printer unit 51 Shared folder 111 Transmission destination setting unit 112, 412 IPP processing unit 411 Transfer destination determination unit 413 Transfer processing unit 414 memory

Claims (4)

A data transmission device connected to a communication device via a network,
A destination setting unit that holds list information of terminal devices that can communicate with the communication device using a file sharing protocol, and sets a transmission destination of transmission data using the list information;
A transfer instruction information creating unit for creating transfer instruction information for instructing the communication apparatus to transfer the transmission data to the terminal apparatus set as the transmission destination;
A transmission unit that transmits the transfer instruction information to the communication device together with the transmission data based on a remote printing protocol;
A data transmission device comprising: The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A terminal information registration unit that receives terminal information that identifies the terminal device, and registers the received terminal information in the list information;
A data transmission device comprising: A receiving unit for receiving transmission data transmitted using a remote printing protocol by a communication device connected via a network;
A transfer confirmation unit that determines a transfer destination of the transmission data based on the transfer instruction information when the reception unit receives transfer instruction information instructing transfer of the transmission data together with the transmission data;
A transfer unit that transfers the transmission data to the transfer destination determined based on a file sharing protocol;
A data transfer device comprising: The data transfer device according to claim 3, further comprising:
A transfer destination management unit which holds transfer destination information indicating a device to which the own device can transfer the transmission data, and transmits the transfer destination information to the communication device before the communication device transmits the transmission data;
A data transfer device comprising:

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